NCAA Basketball: Midseason scouting notes and takeaways on 2023 NBA Draft prospects

Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana – 6’9, 245 lbs –  February 2000

Jackson-Davis has always been a productive college player but hasn’t necessarily adapted his game to translate at the next level. He is 6’9, but he’s a long-necked 6’9.

That being said, Jackson-Davis is playing some of his best basketball right now, is a clear top player in the sport, and was dominant when I saw him against Illinois in mid-January. Illinois decided to play him 1 on 1, and Jackson-Davis dominated inside, getting to his left hand and finishing through contact, finishing with an absurd 35 points. He used his leaping ability to finish a few lobs and has an easy trajectory to being a lob threat at the next level.

Jackson-Davis has made noticeable strides in two areas: defense and passing. He blocked five shots against Illinois, using his athleticism to stay with drivers and deter shots or rotate from the opposite block. His timing has gotten really good. Jackson-Davis also passes out of doubles well and while I wouldn’t call him a savant, he at least has enough understanding of where helpers are to find perimeter shooters out of his post gravity.

Jackson-Davis still has some flaws that don’t look fixable. His shooting hasn’t gotten better at all, and he virtually has no right hand as a finisher. Positionally, he kind of has to be a five to not kill your spacing, but is he big enough? He has surpassed other productive college centers like Drew Timme and Oscar Tshwebwe as a prospect, but I don’t value the archetype. Still, the productivity level has been outstanding and he has shown enough to be a second-round pick and late roster spot, or two-way player.